Why in the News?
Reasi is set to become J&K’s second district after Srinagar to implement the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme for marginalised individuals’ dignity and livelihood.
About the SMILE Scheme:
- Launch: It was launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Type: It is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at the rehabilitation of beggars and empowerment of transgender persons.
- Core Focus: It promotes rehabilitation, livelihood creation, skill development, and social inclusion for the most marginalised individuals.
- Approach: It merges earlier schemes for transgender persons and those engaged in begging to provide a cohesive welfare framework.
- Key Features and Components:
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- Shelter Provision: Uses existing shelter homes run by states/UTs; new homes are set up where needed for secure accommodation.
- Livelihood and Skilling: Offers education, identity documentation, vocational training, and economic linkages to ensure self-reliance.
- Target Group Size: The scheme aims to benefit approximately 60,000 marginalised individuals, especially transgender persons and urban beggars.
- Implementation and Funding:
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- Pilot Launch: The first phase started in 30 cities and later expanded to 50 more cities under Phase 2.
- Survey Mechanism: Local authorities conduct field surveys, with each unit aiming to rehabilitate at least 25 individuals.
- Financial Allocation: A total of ₹100 crore was allocated for 2023–26, with ₹14.71 crore spent by December 2024 on rehabilitation efforts.
| [UPSC 2016] ‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to:
(a) rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood* (b) abolish the Child Labour (c) salvage the marshy lands and wetlands in the coastal areas and cultivate crops in them (d) rehabilitate the manual scavengers and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood |
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